Round 4 Feature Match: Chase Cunningham versus Alexander Simpson

October 3rd, 2015

Chase Cunningham is one of the most experienced Burning Abyss Duelists competing in the tournament this weekend. He took second place at the 2015 World Championship Qualifier with his Burning Abyss Deck, earning himself an invitation to the 2015 World Championship in Tokyo, Japan.

Now, he’s facing off against fellow Burning Abyss Duelist Alexander Simpson in a Round 4 Feature Match that will determine which one of these Duelists advances with a perfect 4-0 record. It’s time to Duel!

Duel One

Simpson started off Duel 1 by Special Summoning Barbar,Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his hand and then Normal Summoning Graff. He combined his 2 monsters to Xyz Summon Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss and activated its effect, detaching Graff to send Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from the top of his Deck to his Graveyard. He Special Summoned Graff from his Graveyard with Cir’s effect and Special Summoned Scarm from his Deck with Graff’s effect. Next, he combined Graff with Scarm to Xyz Summon another Dante, and detached Scarm to activate Dante’s effect and send Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from the top of his Deck to his Graveyard. He Set 3 cards to his back row and then added Tour Guide From the Underworld from his Deck to his hand with Scarm’s effect in the End Phase.

Cunningham opened up Duel 1 with Solemn Warning, Scarm,Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Raigeki, Breakthrough Skill, Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He revealed Rubic from his hand to try to Special Summon it, and Simpson Chained Mind Crush, naming Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to force Cunningham to discard it. Next, Cunningham activated Raigeki, destroying Simpson’s 2 Dantes! Simpson used the effects of his Dantes to return Rubic to his hand and a Dante to his Extra Deck, and used the effect of his Graff to Special Summon a Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck. Next, Cunningham Special Summoned Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to the field; but Simpson flipped Bottomless Trap Hole and banished it from the Duel! Cunningham Set Solemn Warning, Breakthrough Skill, and Scarm,Malebranche of the Burning Abyss before passing his turn.

Simpson Normal Summoned Rubic to the field and then combined Rubic with Cir to Xyz Summon Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss in Attack Position. He detached Cir and activated its effect to send Solemn Warning, Fiend Griefing, and Scarm,Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from the top of his Deck to his Graveyard. He activated Cir’s effect, attempting to Special Summon Graff from his Graveyard, and Cunningham flipped Solemn Warning and paid 2000 Life Points to negate Cir’s effect. Dante attacked Cunningham’s face-down Scarm to destroy it, and then upgraded his Dante into Downerd Magician in Main Phase 2. He Set a card to his back row and then entered his End Phase. In his End Phase, Simpson added Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to his hand with Scarm’s effect, and Cunningham added Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to his hand with his own Scarm’s effect.

Cunningham drew Vanity’s Emptiness and then Set Graff along with his Vanity’s Emptiness.

Simpson’s Downerd Magician attacked Cunningham’s face-down Graff, destroying it and dealing 1000 points of piercing damage to Cunningham. Simpson detached Dante from his Downerd Magician, and used his Dante’s effect to add Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Graveyard to his hand. Cunningham Special Summoned Scarm from his Deck with Graff’s effect. Simpson Set a card to his back row before passing his turn.

Cunningham drew Fiend Griefing and Set it.

Simpson Summoned Tour Guide From the Underworld and tried to activate its effect, but Cunningham flipped Breakthrough Skill to negate it. Next, Simpson activated Foolish Burial, sending Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck to his Graveyard. He activated Libic’s effect to Special Summon Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his hand with its effect negated. Next, he combined Farfa with Tour Guide From the Underworld to Xyz Summon Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, and detached Farfa to activate his Dante’s effect and send Mathematician, Karma Cut, and Ring of Destruction from the top of his Deck to his Graveyard. Simpson Chained Fiend Griefing to Dante’s effect, sending Farfa back to Simpson’s Deck from his Graveyard, and sending Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his own Deck to his Graveyard. Cunningham Chained Vanity’s Emptiness to Graff’s effect, and then direct attacks from Dante and Downerd Magician dropped Cunningham down to 2200 Life Points. In his End Phase, Cunningham added Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck to his Graveyard with Scarm’s effect.

Cunningham drew Fiend Griefing. He Set it along with his Cir and then passed his turn.

Simpson switched his Dante into Attack Position and then attacked Cunningham’s face-down Cir with Downerd Magician. Cunningham lost 900 Life Points in piercing damage, and then Dante attacked directly, dropping Cunningham down to 300 Life Points. Dante switched into Defense Position and Simpson Set a card to his back row before passing his turn.

Cunningham drew Foolish Burial next turn and conceded, unable to break through Simpson’s field of monsters and Vanity’s Emptiness.

Alexander Simpson dominates Chase Cunningham in the first Duel!

Duel Two

Cunningham opened up Duel 2 with Scarm,Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Torrential Tribute, and Vanity’s Emptiness. He Special Summoned Libic from his hand and then Normal Summoned Scarm. He combined Scarm with Libic to Xyz Summon Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss in Defense Position and then detached Scarm from Dante to send Fiend Griefing, Flying “C”, and Barbar, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from the top of his Deck to his Graveyard. He Set Torrential Tribute and Vanity’s Emptiness before entering his End Phase and adding Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to his hand with Scarm’s effect.

Simpson Special Summoned Libic from his hand in Defense Position and then Normal Summoned Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. Cunningham flipped Torrential Tribute to clear the field! He used his Dante’s effect to target the Scarm in his Graveyard, and after all of the fallen monsters’ effects went on the Chain, Cunningham flipped Vanity’s Emptiness to prevent anything from being Special Summoned! Simpson Set 2 cards to his back row and then passed his turn.

Cunningham drew Trap Stun and then Simpson flipped Mind Crush, naming Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. Cunningham sent Graff from his hand to his Graveyard and then Set Trap Stun and Scarm to his field.

Simpson activated Dark Hole to destroy Scarm, and Vanity’s Emptiness went down with it. Next, Simpson Summoned Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and attacked directly, dropping Cunningham down to 6400 Life Points. Cunningham added Tour Guide From the Underworld to his hand with the effect of his Scarm in the End Phase.

Cunningham drew Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and then Normal Summoned Tour Guide From the Underworld. He activated its effect, and when Simpson Chained Vanity’s Emptiness, Cunningham Chained Trap Stun to negate it. Cunningham Special Summoned Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck with Tour Guide’s effect and then combined Tour Guide with Graff to Xyz Summon Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss in Attack Position. He detached Graff to activate Dante’s effect and send another Graff, Dark Hole, and The Traveler and the Burning Abyss from the top of his Deck to his Graveyard. He used his Graff’s effect to Special Summon Rubic to his field in Defense Position and then Special Summoned Farfa from his hand. He Tuned Farfa with Rubic to Synchro Summon Virgil, Rock Star of the Burning Abyss and then activated its effect by discarding Cir to shuffle Simpson’s Cir back into his Deck. Next, Cunningham Special Summoned Dante from his Graveyard in Attack Position with Cir’s effect. He attacked directly with his Dantes and his Virgil, dropping Simpson down to 2000 Life Points. Cunningham upgraded his Dantes into Downerd Magicians in Main Phase 2 and then passed his turn.

Simpson activated Dark Hole to clear the field, and Cunningham activated the effects of his Dantes to add 2 Burning Abyss monsters from his Graveyard to his hand. Simpson Set a monster before passing his turn.

Cunningham Summoned Mathematician to his field and activated its effect to send Cir from his Deck to his Graveyard. He activated Cir’s effect to Special Summon Virgil from his Graveyard, and then discarded a Burning Abyss monster from his hand to shuffle Simpson’s face-down monster back into his Deck. Direct attacks from Virgil and Mathematician finished Simpson off!

Chase Cunningham wins Duel 2 to push the Match to a third and final Duel!

Duel Three

Simpson Set 3 cards to his back row.

Cunningham opened up with Tour Guide From the Underworld, Dark Hole, Torrential Tribute, Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and 2 copies of Fiend Griefing. He Summoned Tour Guide From the Underworld and activated its effect, prompting Simpson to Chain Maxx “C” from his hand! Cunningham Special Summoned Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck in Attack Position, allowing Simpson to draw 1 card. Next, Cunningham attacked directly with Tour Guide and Graff, dropping Simpson down to 6000 Life Points. Cunningham Set 3 cards to his back row before passing his turn.

Simpson activated Raigeki, destroying Tour Guide and Graff. Cunningham activated his Graff’s effect to Special Summon Scarm from his Deck in Defense Position.

Cunningham drew Scarm,Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck and then Normal Summoned Rubic; but Simpson Special Summoned Flying “C” to Cunningham’s field in Defense Position! Rubic and Scarm destroyed themselves, and Cunningham added Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck to his hand with Scarm’s effect in his End Phase.

Simpson Set a card to his back row and then passed his turn.

Cunningham drew Barbar,Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and then Normal Summoned Cir. It destroyed itself since Flying “C” was on his field, allowing Cunningham to Special Summon Graff from his Graveyard with Cir’s effect. When Graff self-destructed, Cunningham Special Summoned Libic from his Deck with Graff’s effect. Libic destroyed itself with its own effect, and Cunningham Special Summoned Barbar from his hand with Libic’s effect. Time in the round was called, and Simpson flipped Bottomless Trap Hole to banish Barbar. Cunningham switched Flying “C” into Attack Position and then attacked directly, dropping Simpson down to 5300 Life Points.

Simpson Set a card to his back row and then passed his turn.

Cunningham drew a Flying “C” of his own next turn, and then attacked directly with Flying “C”. Simpson flipped Fiend Griefing, sending Scarm from Cunningham’s Graveyard to his Deck, and then sending Graff from his own Deck to his Graveyard. Simpson activated Graff’s effect to Special Summon Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss in Attack Position, and Cunningham flipped Torrential Tribute to clear the field! Simpson attempted to Special Summon Graff from his Graveyard with Cir’s effect, and Cunningham Chained Fiend Griefing to shuffle Cir back into Simpson’s Deck and send Graff from his own Deck to his Graveyard. He Special Summoned Cir from his Deck with Graff’s effect and then attacked directly with Cir. Simpson flipped Karma Cut, discarding Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss from his hand to banish Cir. Cunningham Set Scarm before passing his turn.

Simpson Set a monster and passed his turn.

Cunningham drew Foolish Burial and then Flip Summoned Scarm. He activated Foolish Burial next, sending Cir from his Deck to his Graveyard. He activated Cir’s effect to Special Summon Graff from his Graveyard in Defense Position. Simpson flipped Book of Moon to put Graff face-down, and Scarm destroyed itself with its own effect. Cunningham activated Dark Hole to clear the field, destroying his own Graff along with Simpson’s face-down Libic, and then Special Summoned Scarm from his Deck in Defense Position with Graff’s effect. He added Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck to his hand with the effect of Scarm in his End Phase.

Simpson drew a card and then extended the handshake in concession, down by 2700 Life Points during his final turn of overtime.